SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING ATMOSPHERIC PARAMETERS IN ENCLOSED SPACES

• US 20120173026A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Colby, Roy Stephen, Kocher, Mark John
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A system and method of measuring atmospheric parameters in an enclosed space using instrumented objects having measurement sensors. The instrumented objects travel through the space randomly or along defined flight paths. As the instrumented objects travel through the space, the measurement sensors measure atmospheric parameters and store the measurements to a memory. The devices periodically upload the measured atmospheric parameters to a controller circuit. By using self-propelled objects to carry measurement sensors, the system and method disclosed herein allow for periodically sampling atmospheric parameters in the interior of an enclosed space at a number of locations greater than the number of measurement devices employed. With data points taken from various locations within a volume of an enclosed space, the system and method can realize a more efficient utilization of energy by adjusting mechanical controls of an HVAC system or a ventilation system, for example.

Claims

1. A system for providing a measurement of an atmospheric parameter in an enclosed space to a building management system controlling atmospheric conditions within the enclosed space, the system comprising:

a controller circuit including;

a communication terminal for receiving a set of position measurements and receiving a measurement of an atmospheric parameter from a communication interface of a measurement device,

a processor electronically connected to the communication terminal, the processor being programmed to determine a location based on the received position measurements and to associate the determined location with the received measurement of the atmospheric parameter,

a memory for storing the received measurement of the atmospheric parameter and the associated location, the memory electronically connected to the processor; and

a data link between the controller circuit and the building management system configured for sending the received measurement of the atmospheric parameter and the associated location to the building management system, the building management system configured to adjust a control of a building according to a function including the received measurement of the atmospheric parameter and the associated location.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an instrumented object that includes the measurement device, the measurement device including an atmospheric sensor for detecting the measurement of the atmospheric parameter and the communication interface for transmitting the measurement of the atmospheric parameter; and

a position sensor for tracking a location of the instrumented object in the enclosed space and creating a set of position measurements indicative of the tracked location.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the instrumented object is self-propelled by a propulsion system having an energy storage and is configured to move through the enclosed space using energy stored in the energy storage.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a base station having a recharging or refueling port for dispensing fuel or energy to the instrumented object.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the instrumented object moves by rotating a propeller to create lift.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the instrumented object is a fixed-wing aircraft.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the instrumented object operates autonomously without real time intervention from a user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric parameter is one or more of temperature, oxygen content, carbon dioxide content, humidity, smoke, or airflow rate in the enclosed space.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the set of position measurements are based on a reading from an accelerometer attached to the instrumented object.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the set of position measurements are based on a measured relative time delay of signals received by the instrumented object or of signals transmitted or reflected from the instrumented object.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an additional instrumented object that includes;

a measurement device having an atmospheric sensor and a communication interface,

wherein the at least one additional instrumented object detects atmospheric parameters from locations within the enclosed space not previously detected by the instrumented object.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrumented object is heavier than air or lighter than air and has an ability to move through the enclosed space in a random, predetermined, or controlled manner.

13. A method of obtaining measurements of an atmospheric parameter in an enclosed space, the method comprising:

receiving a set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter from an instrumented object having an ability to move through the enclosed space, the instrumented objected including an atmospheric sensor;

receiving, from a position sensor, a set of position measurements indicative of a location of the instrumented object within the enclosed space;

associating, using a processor of a control circuit, the set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter with a set of measurement locations based on the set of position measurements; and

storing, in a memory of the control circuit, the set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter and the set of measurement locations.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a second set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter from a second instrumented object moving through the enclosed space, the second instrumented object having a second atmospheric sensor for detecting the atmospheric parameter;

receiving a second set of position measurements indicative of a location of the second instrumented object within the enclosed space;

associating the second set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter with a second set of measurement locations based on the second set of position measurements; and

storing the second set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter and the associated second set of measurement locations in the memory.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending the set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter and the associated set of measurement locations to a building management system for the building management system to adjust a ventilation system connected to the enclosed space based on the set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter and the associated set of measurement locations.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending the set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter, the second set of measurements of the atmospheric parameter, the associated set of measurement locations, and the associated second set of measurement locations to a building management system for the building management system to adjust a ventilation system connected to the enclosed space based on the sent sets of measured atmospheric parameters and the sent associated sets of measurement locations.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the instrumented object is a self-propelled object that includes a propulsion system having an energy storage and wherein the instrumented object is configured to move through the enclosed space using energy stored in the energy storage.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the instrumented object operates autonomously without real time intervention from a user.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the atmospheric parameter is one or more of temperature, oxygen content, carbon dioxide content, humidity, smoke, or airflow rate in the enclosed space.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the building management system is configured to adjust a blower, a fan, a louver, or a fresh air intake of the ventilation system connected to the enclosed space.

21. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a controller to perform the method of claim 13.

22. A method of operating a building management system, the building management system configured to adjust a control of a building;

the method comprising;

receiving a set of atmospheric data, the set of atmospheric data indicative of one or more atmospheric parameters detected using a measurement device attached to a self-propelled object moving within an enclosed space having atmospheric conditions maintained by the building management system, the measurement device including;

an atmospheric sensor for detecting the set of atmospheric data; and

a communication interface for communicating the detected set of atmospheric data;

receiving a set of position measurements indicative of the location of the self-propelled object within the enclosed space;

analyzing the received set of atmospheric data and the received set of position measurements to determine an atmospheric characteristic of the enclosed space, adjusting the control of the building according to a function including the determined atmospheric characteristic.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the mechanical control is a vent, a fan, or a louver influencing the direction or speed of air ventilating the enclosed space.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the analyzing is carried out by modeling a three-dimensional temperature distribution or gas content of the enclosed space based on the received set of atmospheric data and the received set of position measurements, and wherein the adjusting is carried out by determining an adjustment to the mechanical control based on a predicted change in atmospheric conditions within the enclosed space responsive to the adjustment according to the three-dimensional model.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the control of the building is a mechanical control and is adjusted to redirect airflow in a manner that minimizes an energy expenditure to heat or cool an unpopulated region of the enclosed space.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the control of the building includes adjustable aspects of an HVAC system, and wherein the adjusting is carried out by adjusting an aspect of the HVAC system to correct a local atmospheric non-uniformity within the enclosed space.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the local atmospheric non-uniformity is a local buildup of carbon dioxide, a local hot spot, or a local cool spot within the enclosed space.